Natural products targeting into cancer hallmarks: An update on caffeine, theobromine, and (+)-catechin.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to elucidate the anticancer mechanisms of caffeine, theobromine, and (+)-catechin by analyzing their effects on dysfunctional cancer pathways associated with the hallmarks of cancer.
Results Summary
The study highlights the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties of caffeine, theobromine, and (+)-catechin, suggesting their potential as new strategies to block cancer growth, particularly in cases resistant to chemotherapy. However, the causal antitumor mechanisms of these molecules remain to be fully elucidated.
Population
Not specified (general focus on cancer research)
Effective Dosage
Not provided
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
caffeine | decrease | cancer | - | - | have anticancer actions | #1 |
theobromine | decrease | cancer | - | - | have anticancer actions | #2 |
(+)-catechin | decrease | cancer | - | - | have anticancer actions | #3 |
caffeine | decrease | oxidative stress | - | - | have antioxidant capacity | #4 |
theobromine | decrease | oxidative stress | - | - | have antioxidant capacity | #5 |
(+)-catechin | decrease | oxidative stress | - | - | have antioxidant capacity | #6 |
caffeine | decrease | inflammation | - | - | have anti-inflammatory capacity | #7 |
theobromine | decrease | inflammation | - | - | have anti-inflammatory capacity | #8 |
(+)-catechin | decrease | inflammation | - | - | have anti-inflammatory capacity | #9 |
caffeine | decrease | tumor growth | - | - | have antitumor capacity | #10 |
theobromine | decrease | tumor growth | - | - | have antitumor capacity | #11 |
(+)-catechin | decrease | tumor growth | - | - | have antitumor capacity | #12 |
Natural products have been studied to reveal new therapies against human dysfunctions since they present several medicinal properties. Caffeine, theobromine and (+)-catechin are remarkable natural agents in the class of methylxanthines and flavonoids. These bioactive molecules have several biological activities, for instance, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor capacity. In this sense, studies focusing on these molecules have been performed to discover new treatments against diseases, such as cancer. Cancer is a serious public health problem worldwide responsible for more than 70% of all deaths globally. Industrialized products associated with a sedentary lifestyle and a diet low in antioxidants are related to neoplasms development. Unfortunately, many types of cancers are extremely aggressive and untreatable since, in many cases, they are resistant to chemotherapy. Therefore, revealing new strategies to block cancer growth is one of the biggest challenges to science. In this context, despite the known anticancer actions of caffeine, theobromine and (+)-catechin, it is still essential to elucidate the causal antitumor mechanism of these molecules by analyzing the dysfunctional cancer pathways associated with the hallmarks of cancer. Hence, this review aims to describe the anticancer activity of caffeine, theobromine, and (+)-catechin against the different hallmarks and enabling characteristics of cancer.